In Greek & Roman mythology, Venus/Aphrodite is the alchemical goddess of Love, Beauty & Sensuality. Being the goddess most associated with both love and lust, Venus did not tie herself down to one man— she enjoyed many, many lovers. Venus and Ares have been romantically linked, enjoying a long-term affair and having several children together. While the goddess of love and the god of war do share many differences, when they merge their two energies a beautiful balance occurs between activity and receptivity, the masculine and the feminine, love, harmony and willful self-expression. Venus and Ares make an incredibly passionate, highly sexual combination and while in retrograde, Venus tends to dominate as she is positioned much closer to the Earth making her energy and influence much more potent.

Being a highly sensual, sensory oriented sign, Venus lives in the present and enjoys immersing herself in the beauty of the moment. Because of this, she doesn't have much foresight or regard for past mistakes. In combination with Aries in particular, this can lead her to become incredibly impulsive, jumping head-first into whatever feels good "in the moment." This shortsightedness and denial of the ugly side of reality can cause her to make some downright disastrous decisions during her retrograde period. Venus retrograde is a time when love can become a "curse" and extravagant spending can cause suffering in the long-term.

Venus Retrograde Astrological Breakdown: March & April 2017

Venus stations retrograde on March 4th, marking the beginning of a period when our relationships, finances, and other areas we place value on are up for re-evaluation. This is a time of important life lessons that reveal to us the true value (or lack thereof) of our existing relationships. Venus in retrograde gives us an opportunity to make necessary adjustments to create more rewarding, long-lasting commitments moving forward. Venus also rules our material wealth, and money issues will certainly be up for review. This transit could lead to a reversal in important financial matters, which serves to help us reach our personal financial goals in the long term. This may come in the form of a reversal of debt, a refinancing of some sort, or maybe even a temporary loss that causes us to re-evaluate our budget or our relationship with money. Issues of self-worth will also be up at this time, and many will be feeling more vulnerable which will have a detrimental effect on self-confidence. Working on letting go of limiting beliefs surrounding feelings of worthlessness, being unlovable, and fear of abandonment may prove especially fruitful at this time. With Venus in Aries, the focus is on our own ego needs and self-interest in relationships for the beginning part of this retrograde until Venus moves into Pisces on April 2nd.

Just as a side, Venus retrograde is not a good time for purchasing luxury items— chances are you’ll regret that extravagant spending once Venus moves direct. It is, however, an excellent time for thrifting, antiquing, and finding good deals on things you truly need.

On April 2nd, retrograde Venus will move into Pisces. Here the focus shifts from personal self-interest in relationships to a more collective mindset. Relationships take on a more loving, compassionate nature and emotional connections deepen at this time.

Venus stations direct in Pisces on April 15th, but that doesn't mean we're immediately out of the water as Venus will be squaring Saturn on-and-off throughout the month of April. This transit will come exact on April 8th in retrograde and again on April 21st while moving direct and the energy can be felt throughout the month. Venus square Saturn may cause us to feel the burden of limitation in terms of our relationships and finances in a big way. On the flip side, a mindset of lack can impose limitations on our ability to develop love and compassion in our relationships and can place additional, unnecessary strain on our material comfort.

As with all transits of Venus, Venus retrograde (as well as the square to Saturn) will be felt more strongly by women and women in general will benefit more greatly from the lessons learned during this period.